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Simple Porcupine Meatballs Recipe

A hearty, budget-friendly Porcupine Meatballs Recipe inspired by Great Depression cooking, made with ground beef, rice, and rich tomato sauce. These tender, spiky meatballs feed a family for under $15 and deliver nostalgic comfort with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 –8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 393
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs ground beef 80/20 lean
  • 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 3 –4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 cans 28 oz each diced tomatoes
  • 1 can 6 oz tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • Dried oregano basil, and paprika to taste

Method
 

  1. Sauté diced onion and garlic in a Dutch oven until softened.
  2. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and seasonings; bring to a simmer.
  3. Mix ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until just combined.
  4. Form mixture into 1.5–2 inch meatballs.
  5. Nestle meatballs into the simmering tomato sauce.
  6. Cover and simmer 45–60 minutes until rice is tender and meatballs reach 160°F.
  7. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Freeze uncooked meatballs for fast weeknight dinners. Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version. Keep meatballs small to ensure rice cooks evenly.